LAKERS -at- KINGS - 2/1 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

 
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 11:19 pm    Post subject: LAKERS -at- KINGS - 2/1 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

The Long and Winding Road... On the road, there will be Kobe tributes, the chants from fans and questions from local beat reporters that will keep the tragedy front and center. It will be the new normal for quite a while.

The games must be played and so we go forward to wherever this winding road takes us.

You would think there wasn’t a more exhausting second night of a back-to-back than this one. But the Lakers came out of the gates scorching. The three ball was falling early as Avery Bradley knocked down four from beyond the arc in the first quarter. The Lakers seized a commanding 44-22 lead after the first.

Vogel ran a couple of minutes without LeBron or AD and saw that cut in half. But by the end of the first half, the Lakers would lead 81-64, matching their season-high scoring half.

“It’s a great number, 81,” Vogel said afterward. Again, that winding road leads us back to Kobe’s door..

The Lakers wouldn’t take control of this one until the fourth quarter when they went on a 14-2 run to ice it for good and take the 129-113 win.

Nice to get a blowout.

So forward we go. With the win tonight, the Lakers are now 7-0 on the second night of the back to back.


LeBron -- -- He had shooters around him early on and by the end of the first half had 11 assists to go with his 12 points. Great job finding the hot hands like Bradley or slipping no-lookers to McGee. His best pass of that half, however, was a bounce pass on the break that had back spin on it to get around a defender and find KCP perfectly for the layup. No assists in the second half, but he’d get to the triple-double. Struggling with shot a little in this one, not getting it over the front of the rim at times. He even airballed one in the fourth quarter. We shut him down with about 6 minutes left. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 6-15 shooting (1-4 from three, 2-3 from the line) to go with 10 boards, 11 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 34 minutes. He was a +33.

Davis -- -- Just 30 minutes tonight as we got to rest him. He had 5 assists himself in the first half. When the Kings sent double teams, we saw LeBron cutting hard and AD finding him for scores. That combo out of the double team seemed to work well. And if LeBron’s not there, a strong cut probably will bring more help defenders to open up passing lanes more. The jumper was looking wet tonight. He sank a corner three on a kickout and had some iso pull-ups and fades from the mid post to give the smaller Kings issues. The Stats: He scored 21 points on 5-9 shooting (1-2 from three, 10-10 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 30 minutes. He was a +20.

Green -- -- He was credited with only shooting three’s in this one (and went 3-8), but I swear there was an airballed floater in the mix there. Maybe that was a pass. Defensively, he still looks a little slower to me right now, but the hands were certainly fast. He had a couple nice steals, including a really great strip in transition to prevent a breakaway score. The Lakers dominated in transition (37-14). Credit to the guys hustling back in transition on D to keep the Kings from getting some easy ones. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 3-8 shooting from three to go with 4 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a +14.

McGee -- -- “We’re just trying to get back to our game, which is just have fun,” McGee said. Hopefully, this team can get back to two things. First, playing excellent defense. Second, as he said, just enjoying the game, having fun and getting back to some sort of normal-ish ball. This felt like a small step in that direction. It’s still hard to deal with everything, but I do think this helps the process in some small way. Great job by the starters in the first quarter to set the tone in this game. The Lakers big shut down the paint. We need to see more stretches like that, allowing us to get out on the break and back to some of those runs that crush teams. The Kings play a bit small. But, really, the outcome in this is probably as simple as with LeBron/AD, we just crush teams like this. Offensively, he had a couple of dunks, one on a BLOB sequence when LeBron no-looked to him under the hoop. The other was a putback jam off a forced shot from AD in a crowd in the paint (that should have actually been a high-low pass from LeBron to McGee, but he forced it to AD). The Stats: He scored 7 points on 2-2 shooting (3-4 from the line) to go with 8 boards (3-4 from the line) to go with 1 assist, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 15 minutes. He was a +12.

Bradley -- -- Off to a hot start in this one with three threes in the first two minutes of the game. He’d sink another three in that first quarter and hit a couple more midrange jumpers to end up with 16 points in the first 12 minutes. Good job on Vogel riding the hot hand (and LeBron for finding him). Foul trouble found him as he re-entered the game in the second quarter and quickly picked up his third foul on the first defensive stand. Fox had 6 turnovers in the first half. Great to win a matchup at the PG spot, even for a half. Bradley sank a three to start the second half. I hope this is just the start to a great February and he gets back on track. The last month wasn’t too kind to him. The Stats: He scored 19 points on 7-13 (5-9 from three) to go with 2 boards and 3 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a +21.

Caldwell-Pope -- -- We had 4 guys hit 3 or more threes tonight. KCP is shooting with such confidence, he’s putting them up in people’s faces at times. He was one quick grab and fire from the corner for three that looked like he was already working on that All Star break three-point shooting contest. Just took it from the rack, fired and buried it. Every efficient scoring tonight. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 4-7 shooting (3-6 from three, 4-5 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 2 assists, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 26 minutes. He was a +9.

Kuzma -- -- Of course, there’s been a bit of talk about a Kings/Laker trade. None of the rumored players did particularly well. Kuzma might have looked the best tonight, but no one made much of an impact. Mixed results offensively. He did a solid job attacking off the three line to manufacture some points. He needs to be careful not iso’ing, getting OC and then forcing up a bad shot. That’s when the veteran understanding should kick in at some point in his career and he looks for an open man and a better shot. His confidence sometimes gets the better of him. A couple of excellent defensive stands in the fourth against Hield on iso. Hey, Luke, did you catch that we taught Kuzma to improve his happy feet on that end? The Stats: He scored 12 points on 4-10 shooting (1-2 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a +5.

Caruso -- -- Nice when our defensive guards are sinking threes and scoring at a high clip. Bradley had the 16 points in the first quarter and Caruso added 11 points in his second quarter stint, sinking three threes himself. He’d finish with 13 in 16 minutes. Defensively, I love seeing him bust offensive sets fighting through screens. He had a sequence where he did that against some flare screens. I think the next play, he walled of Hield in transition to also force a turnover. No credit for that stuff, but it leads to stops. When we get two-way ball like that, it makes it so much easier on the rest of the team. We had four Lakers in double digits off the bench and not because of garbage time. They earned all that. AC said in the first game against the Kings, Luke dared the Lakers to shoot. They made him pay tonight. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 5-6 shooting (3-4 from three, 0-1 from the line) to go with 1 board, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 16 minutes. He was a -13.

Howard -- -- He didn’t score in this one (missed a tricky layup on his only attempt and bobbled away the ball on his only postup opportunity). But he did a great job on the boards with 9 in 18 minutes. He also had a couple of swats, including a nice help rejection he had to travel a distance to erase. Looked like a sure layup. Hope he’s okay with that because I think the team certainly is. Again, for his type of scoring, we need more dribble penetration so he can go to work on the putback or get setup with the drives and dishes. That wasn’t there with the second unit tonight. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 shooting go with 9 boards (3 offensive), 2 blocks, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 18 minutes. He was a -4.

Rondo -- -- He was a -4 in the first half as we ran a stint to start the second quarter without either of AD or LeBron. That Kuzma/Rondo led unit struggled to create any offense for the team. We need to get more penetration to collapse the D or set up Dwight for lobs or putbacks. In the second half, we kept one of AD or LeBron out there and they did much better. Rondo had a good stretch at the end of the third and start of the fourth where he bailed out the offense with a couple of jumpers and then practically walked in from the corner for a layup that forced a timeout. That helped relieve some pressure to extend the lead back up. Great long bounce pass from half court to LeBron filling the lane on the break for a score in this one, as well. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 6-11 shooting (1-5 from three) to go with 3 boards, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover and no fouls in 27 minutes. He was a -3.

Daniels -- -- He missed a couple of threes in garbage time. Nice to see us tighten the rotation up tonight. The rotation guys did their job scoring-wise, so Vogel didn’t go into the deeper bench. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-2 shooting to go with 1 turnover and 1 foul in 6 minutes. He was a -6.

Cook -- :group: -- I’m not sure if anyone bleeds purple and gold on this team more than Cook. Everyone seems to have noticed how much Kobe’s death impacted him. Of course, Cook’s father was a big Laker fan and Cook, as well. So he’s had the mic thrust at him a bit more than others and has handled it well. Just a likeable guy. He got in for some late garbage time and hit a couple of baskets. He iso’d and hit a pull-up in the lane. Then got a switch and hit a pull-up three over a big. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-2 shooting (1-1 from three) in 3 minutes. He was a -4.

Dudley -- -- Garbage time run at the PF. Nothing to report other than have some semi-heated words at the end of the game while waiting for Bazemore to take his FTs after a late foul. The Stats: He had 1 rebound in 3 minutes. He was a -4.

Vogel -- -- I’ve got to give Vogel some props for having this team 7-0 on the second nights of back-to-backs. A blowout win felt nice, as well.

Key Moment: A 14-2 run midway through the fourth quarter was important as this iced the game for good. But, really, this game was essentially won with that 44-22 first quarter. The Lakers playing D and getting out in transition early, hitting open threes. They punched the Kings in the mouth and controlled the game from there.

Key Substitution: The first half rotations got a little messy and we ran some second unit without either LeBron/AD. We went back to our usual sub pattern in the second half. That kept anything crazy from happening when it easily could have in this one. The lead had been trimmed to 13 in that third and Vogel had to call a timeout. Good stretch by Rondo/LeBron to extend the lead in the fourth.

Key Stats: Let’s go with the 37-14 advantage on the break. Some of that was also the Lakers hitting threes in those situations. They’d knock down 19-43 behind the line (44%).

Coach’s Challenge: The players talked Vogel into reviewing a play midway through the third quarter. They had stripped Fox on the break and were adamant it went off Fox last. Vogel called the timeout and reviewed it. They won the challenge and got possession and another turnover on Fox.
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Dr. Laker
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 11:58 pm    Post subject:

First!
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 12:37 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB.

It felt like the team needed this win, not for win/loss standings but more just feel better. We still have the same issues but that was known even before last night. We just ran into a hot Blazers team.
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 12:38 am    Post subject:

Just kind of glanced through the game, going through the motions. I can't take satisfacion yet, just too sad.

Thanks DB.
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 3:25 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB! That floater was an air ball by Green. I could not believe it and he had the same reaction by the look on his face.
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 4:51 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
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governator
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 5:51 am    Post subject:

Still think it’s a midseason slump with everything that’s going on (vet team, LeBron scoring history, the tragedy of course) or do we need to upgrade (where? Wing?)
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:17 am    Post subject:

7th

Thanks DB!!
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Flashback
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:30 am    Post subject:

they scored 81 pts in the 1st half which is Kobe's career high

Total score 129:113 = 242 Kobe 24 and GiGi 2

Coincidence? I dont think so. Its a sign that they are fine - whereever they are.
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 7:19 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
Felt better watching this one.

3 point shooting is an area that when we get going from there, pretty much impossible to beat us. Because if the team adjusts and begins to contest 3 point shots well, then you have to play AD and Lebron man up, which is not good for your team.

5-9 from 3 by AB
3-8 from 3 by Green
3-6 from 3 by KCP

We are one of the few teams in the league that runs a lot of post feeds or post entry passes to begin an offense. We utilize AD and Lebron this way. I think AD and Lebron draw a lot of defensive attention using this, and it is a form of penetration that can have the same effects of an elite penetration guard. The amazing thing about AD and Lebron, is they can get you penetration by posting up, or by dribble penetration like a guard. I think an argument can be made that for either being better option based on match ups. Lebron is not in his athletic peak, so he will not be able to dribble penetrate each possession anymore. AD is in his athletic peak, but a guy that big driving into the paint is not always an effective play. I like that we use these stars both ways. We need to ensure the spacing around them is always very good.

Defensively we are not locked in the way we can be, so there's a lot of room for improvement. But there were some quality minutes of D yesterday.

The Kobe chants. I love them. I want to hear them in every arena the Lakers play this year. It is easier to watch Laker road games at the moment. Not the house that Kobe built.
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Goldenwest
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 7:51 am    Post subject:

Will feel better when the Lakers beat a contending team
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deal
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:38 am    Post subject:

THANKS DB !!
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:44 am    Post subject:

governator wrote:
Still think it’s a midseason slump with everything that’s going on (vet team, LeBron scoring history, the tragedy of course) or do we need to upgrade (where? Wing?)


The Lakers have been slumping for a couple of weeks for sure, but still need the upgrades at Wing and secondary playmaker.

Beating Sac doesn’t change the holes tbh. Something must be up in the Sacramento locker room, I expected a more competitive game.
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 8:50 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB.
I'm not ready to watch the games yet, the tributes for Kobe are too tough but love reading your updates.
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:11 am    Post subject:

Thanks, DB!

Let's go Lakers
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hig
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:30 am    Post subject:

Flashback wrote:
they scored 81 pts in the 1st half which is Kobe's career high

Total score 129:113 = 242 Kobe 24 and GiGi 2

Coincidence? I dont think so. Its a sign that they are fine - whereever they are.



A quote from "Kings Row" at Golden 1 Center last night:

"Someone on press row said the Kings honored Kobe by giving up 81 points in the first half. SMH"

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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 12:17 pm    Post subject:

Yay nice lil comeback game. Thanks DB
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 3:00 pm    Post subject:

RI Laker wrote:
Thanks DB! That floater was an air ball by Green. I could not believe it and he had the same reaction by the look on his face.


It was called a charge on Green
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 3:20 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:56 pm    Post subject:

Flashback wrote:
they scored 81 pts in the 1st half which is Kobe's career high

Total score 129:113 = 242 Kobe 24 and GiGi 2

Coincidence? I dont think so. Its a sign that they are fine - whereever they are.


If that wasnt enough:

Today (1 week after their deaths) was a palindrome. O2022020. Last time that happened was 900 years ago.

And then Andy Reid wins his first superbowl which just happens to be win number 222.
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